All the talk of ‘Ricci Tuesday’ had been replaced by an intense focus on what was expected to be ‘JP Wednesday.’

Yorkhill has been rerouted to this longer test, having swerved the Supreme.

Although plenty of punters who got their fingers burnt on Blazer in last weekend’s Betfair Hurdle, at Newbury, it is far too soon to write off the beaten favourite.

Willie Mullins has a strong-hand at the five-day stage of the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury with four of the top six in the weights from 31 to stand their ground.

Chuck Blazer was banned for life by Fifa’s ethics committee for widespread corruption, finally ending the career of the long-time most senior American in world football.

Former Fifa executive committee member Chuck Blazer agreed to act undercover for US prosecutors and has been co-operating since at least 2011 in the government’s investigation of football corruption.

A new report from the ESRI says the majority of jobseekers would be better off financially in employment, A review of the post office network has found it can survive if it diversifies, Jeb Bush officially launched his campaign for the White House this morning and Ed Sheeran gave a fan a huge surprise. These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

The $10m sent from FIFA to Jack Warner never appeared in the annual accounts of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and nor did FIFA track the money to ensure it had been invested correctly, it can be disclosed.

The head of Fifa’s audit and compliance committee has reportedly claimed Russia and Qatar could lose the right to host the World Cup if evidence emerges of bribery in the bidding processes.

Fifa whistleblower Chuck Blazer has said he and others took bribes for South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup, in a testimony published by the United States Department of Justice.

When Chuck Blazer answered the phone at his Trump Tower apartment, his pet macaw Max could often be heard squawking in the background.

FIFA is facing the prospect of losing two of its biggest sponsors after airline Emirates decided not to renew its contract and electronics giant Sony also considering ending its links with the world governing body.

Mohamed Bin Hammam will take his battle against a lifetime ban for bribery to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after losing an appeal against the punishment.

Mohamed Bin Hammam has claimed the cash given to members of the Caribbean Football Union during his campaign for the FIFA presidency was simply payment to cover their expenses as he launched a stinging attack on the governing body for his life ban.

Officials at the centre of a FIFA investigation have made a complaint against Chuck Blazer, the whistleblower who sparked the bribery scandal that has rocked football’s world governing body.

Chuck Blazer, the man who blew the whistle on an alleged bribery scandal, has dismissed claims of a FIFA/USA conspiracy, insisting: “The only things that were American in all this were the $100 bills.”

The power struggle at CONCACAF continued today after acting president Lisle Austin was provisionally banned for an alleged rule violation.

The Football Association’s attempt to have the FIFA election called off is “too little, too late”, according to the man who blew the whistle on alleged bribery by senior football figures.

FA chairman David Bernstein last night admitted the attempt to have the FIFA presidential election called off is almost certain to fail but insisted a “coronation” of Sepp Blatter is unacceptable.

Jack Warner has been reported to FIFA for allegedly violating his ban, it can be revealed.

Mohamed Bin Hammam arrived at FIFA’s headquarters today to face an ethics committee hearing on bribery charges, hours after withdrawing from the presidential election.

Mohamed bin Hammam has vowed to clear his name when he appears before the FIFA ethics committee later today after withdrawing from the presidential election.

FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has warned that a “football tsunami” will hit the world governing body over the next few days.

FIFA’s corruption crisis has taken another dramatic turn after Sepp Blatter was accused by his opponent in the presidential election of knowing about the payments which led to bribery charges.

FIFA today faced calls to abandon next week’s presidential election after two of football’s most powerful figures were accused of handing over up to $40,000 (€28,000) in bribes to officials.

TWO of football’s most powerful figures have been accused of handing over bundles of US dollar bills in the most serious corruption crisis that FIFA have ever faced.

Mohamed Bin Hammam came out fighting today after being charged by FIFA with offering bribes for votes.

FIFA’s corruption crisis deepened today after a dramatic announcement that vice-president Jack Warner and presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam have been charged with offering bribes for votes.

FIFA have opened an investigation into the conduct of four officials - including FIFA vice-president Jack Warner and presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam – in relation to bribery allegations made by executive committee member Chuck Blazer, it was announced today.

Football’s most powerful men were this morning preparing to begin the jousting to decide the number of World Cup berths for each continent.

YOU might have noticed that so grim are things in this country — with what few assets we have left now well and truly frozen — that it actually took the news of a man’s death this week to raise a genuine chuckle.

A WAR of words has broken out at the highest level of FIFA over criticism of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid due to extreme temperatures in the country in June and July.

A war of words has broken out at the highest level of FIFA over criticism of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid due to extreme temperatures in the country in June and July.

The contents of a notorious note passed between two FIFA members has indicated that Spain/Portugal and Qatar’s World Cup bids will escape any action over allegations of collusion.

At least two bidding nations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups are set to be investigated by FIFA as part of their inquiry into a bribery scandal.

Fears that England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup may suffer a backlash by a FIFA bribery scandal have been downplayed by a senior member of world football’s governing body.

The Football Association in England will meet tomorrow to decide their next steps towards a possible bid for the 2018 World Cup.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter fired the starting gun for the race to host the 2018 World Cup on Monday - with England regarded as one of the front-runners.